Department for Transport

West Coast Railway Line

lord fearn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many signal failures there have been on the West Coast Main Line in2017 to date.

baroness sugg: This an operational matter for Network Rail; the Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Railways: Disability

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to guarantee the rights of disabled rail passengers following the UK's exit from the EU.

baroness sugg: Under provisions in the EU Withdrawal Bill, EU law, including rules that enshrine rights for disabled passengers, will be brought into UK law. Any future changes to the relevant laws will be a matter for Parliament. Many aspects of UK rail passenger rights already go beyond the minimum EU requirements. The Equality Act 2010 requires all train operating companies to take reasonable steps to ensure that they do not discriminate against disabled people. As part of their licence to operate each train operating company is also required to have a Disabled Persons’ Protection Policy (DPPP) in place. This sets out the level of services and facilities that disabled passengers can expect, how to get staff assistance and how to get help if things do go wrong.” These protections will be unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Railways: Safety

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of UK-registered railway undertakings to obtain European single safety certificates following the UK's exit from the EU.

baroness sugg: In order to run rail services at present, in accordance with Directive 2004/49/EC UK-based railway undertakings, including train operators, are required to obtain a safety certificate. Safety certificates are issued in the UK by the Office of Rail and Road as the national safety authority. European single safety certificates are not due to enter into force until after the UK leaves the EU. The ability for UK-based train operators to obtain these certificates will be a matter for negotiations. The cross-border services that link us with the EU have greatly benefited citizens and businesses in both the UK and the EU. We want to see these services continue without disruption.

Motor Vehicles: Standards

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to keep UK vehicle standards in line with EU vehicle standards after the UK has left the EU.

baroness sugg: The Government’s intention is that all existing EU law will be incorporated into UK law when the UK leaves the EU. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is unable to say what changes, if any, might be made and whether, for example, a higher standard than EU vehicle standards might be implemented. Much of this is dependent on policy decisions yet to be taken, together with further work on secondary legislation is to be brought forward.

Railways: Suicide

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are proposing to take to reduce the number of suicides on the rail network.

baroness sugg: The issue of suicide prevention is an important societal one that has much further reaching consequences than the effect on the railway. Recognising this, the Department for Transport has recently introduced a requirement for train operators to produce a suicide prevention strategy that complies with the Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Suicide Prevention Duty Holders’ Group’s 9 Point Plan, against which they will be assessed and accredited by the British Transport Police (BTP) and the cross-industry Suicide Prevention Duty Holders’ Group. We will continue to work with Network Rail and the BTP to introduce further measures into rail franchising. This supports the work already being done across wider industry to reduce the instance of suicides still further. For example the industry has an established programme of suicide awareness training for frontline railway staff which help them to identify vulnerable people.

Railways: Standards

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the total train delays in 2016–17 resulted from incidents over which the railway network and operators had no control; and how much total time delay occurred as a result of such incidents.

baroness sugg: Incidents over which the rail industry had no control (for example vandalism, trespass, fatalities, disorder on trains and severe weather) accounted for approximately 16% of all delay minutes in the year 1st April 2016 – 31st March 2017. Over the same time period, such incidents caused approximately 2.85 million delay minutes to the rail industry.

Motor Vehicle Type Approval

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthe European Union Whole Vehicle Type Approvalframework andtechnical directiveswill apply in the UK following the UK's exit from the EU; and if not, what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK automotive industry.

baroness sugg: We want to agree an approach that minimises disruption and any additional costs for the automotive industry and consumers in the UK and the EU as of the day of exit. A decision on whether to continue to apply EU whole vehicle type approval will depend on the outcome of the negotiations with the EU. Departments are working with the Department for Exiting the European Union to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the EU will have on businesses, consumers and other economic factors.

Monarch Airlines: Insolvency

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Callanan on 25 October (HL Deb, cols 946–7), whether the internal review being carried out in response to the insolvency of Monarch Airlines will be fed into their wider review and consultation on consumer protection in the aviation industry; and whether the conclusions and proposals of the internal review willbe published.

baroness sugg: We are reviewing consumer protection in the aviation sector as a whole through our aviation strategy. As Lord Callanan indicated in in the ATOL Bill debate of 25 October, we will take on board the lessons learned from Monarch and intend to explore these further in the forthcoming Green Paper on consumer protection to be issued as part of our aviation strategy.

St James's Park: Cycleways

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ashton of Hyde on 25 October 2016 (HL 2343), what discussions Royal Parks has had with Transport for London concerning completion of the East West Cycle Superhighway in St James’s Park; and whether the licence for those works imposes any deadline for their completion.

baroness sugg: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London. The Department is not involved in discussions between Royal Parks and Transport for London (TfL) about construction of cycle superhighways. The East-West Cycle Superhighway will run through central London – and will provide a route from Tower Hill to Lancaster Gate. TfL plans to complete this route this winter. The Hyde Park cycle track is open in full along West Carriage Drive and South Carriage Drive and provides fully segregated cycling facilities. There is however some ongoing remedial works and other related works such as the reconfiguration of the Diana Car Park. With respect to St. James Park, Birdcage Walk remedial works begin on 13 November 2017. The resurfacing outside of Buckingham Palace memorial begins 20 November 2017. These works have been delayed due to issues sourcing the red surfacing material. Constitution Hill in Green Park, adjacent to St. James Park, is open in full. TfL anticipate that the cycle track will be open in St James Park from mid-December 2017, subject to the remaining works going to programme. In the meantime, TfL continues to engage with local businesses, residents and stakeholders to ensure those affected are kept informed about the work arrangements.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Pakistan: Blasphemy

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the government of Pakistan following the lynching in April of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, for allegedly publishing blasphemous content online and expressing liberal and secular views; if so, what response they have received; and whether they have made other representations to the government of Pakistan on cases involving deaths or imprisonment following breaches of the country’s blasphemy laws in the past 12 months.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We were deeply concerned by the case of Mashal Khan. We understand that a Supreme Court mandated investigation found no evidence of Mr Khan committing blasphemy. We also understand that 57 individuals were indicted in September and are currently facing trial in Pakistan’s Anti-Terror Courts in connection to this case.The Government regularly applies diplomatic pressure on countries which implement blasphemy laws. These laws generally limit freedom of expression and are only compatible with international human rights law in narrow circumstances when they are used to prevent or punish incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. The UK regularly raises our concerns about the blasphemy laws and their misuse with the Pakistani Government. The Foreign Secretary raised the blasphemy laws and their misuse during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific, (Mr Field), discussed Pakistan’s blasphemy laws on 8 November on his visit to Pakistan. ​We will discuss Pakistan’s human rights record, including concerns about the blasphemy laws in more detail at its Universal Periodic Review.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 October (HL1818), whatwere the outcomes of their conversations with the government of Saudi Arabia on human rights.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly and robustly raise human rights cases with Saudi Arabia, including through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Human Rights Report in which Saudi Arabia is listed as a Human Rights Priority Country due to the death penalty, women's rights and the restrictions on freedom of expression and belief. We believe that, together with our international partners on human rights, we have been able to influence gradual but positive change in women's rights. We welcome recent developments such as the Royal Decree permitting women to obtain driving licenses from June 2018 and greater female participation in the workforce.

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last had a face to face conversation with representatives of the government of Bahrain about human rights issues; what conclusions they drew from that conversation; whether they raised the cases of (1) Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, (2) Nabeel Rajat, (3) Mahmood Marzooq, and (4) Hajar Mansoor Hasan; and if so, with what result.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Minister for the Middle East had face to face meetings with members of the Bahraini Administration during his visit to Manama on 19 October. He covered a wide range of topics including human rights. The UK Government continues to emphasise the need to respect the rights of all citizens and to act proportionately to protect human rights, including freedom of expression. We have raised our concerns with the Bahraini government at the highest levels.We have raised the referenced cases at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain. We understand there is now a right of appeal to these sentences. The UK Government will continue to closely monitor proceedings.

China: Prisoners

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to legislate to criminalise the visiting of China to receive organ transplants.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned about reports of involuntary organ removal taking place in China, and suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. We have raised this issue with the Chinese authorities.Despite UK physicians advising patients against it, it is very difficult to prevent UK citizens travelling to less well-regulated countries to seek an organ transplant. Although numbers in the UK are not collated, it is thought that very few patients in the UK choose to do so. There are no plans to legislate on this issue.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is theirassessment of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards corps' (1) support for terrorism and involvement in terrorist attacks in the region and around the world, and (2) role in domestic arrests of human rights activists and arrests of dual citizens.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and associated entities including the IRGC Qods Force are known to be involved in multiple regional conflicts, including operating through proxies. The Government is clear that Iran should cease disruptive involvement in regional conflicts, and should instead look to play a constructive role in regional stability. Within Iran, we have serious concerns about the risk to British/Iranian dual nationals of arbitrary detention. For this reason our travel advice highlights the risks of travel and provides further information for dual nationals. We will continue to maintain dialogue on Iran's regional policies, human rights and particularly our dual national detainees with the Iranian Government. Positive progress in all of these areas is important to the UK.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their most recent assessment of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards corps' involvement in (1) Iran's ballistic missile programme, and (2) possible nuclear and missile co-operation with North Korea.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has operational control of Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and is involved in ballistic missile research and development and flight testing.We condemn North Korea’s illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes; the Foreign Secretary said in Parliament on 5 September that North Korea’s defiance in developing these programmes has brought universal condemnation. We continue to closely monitor these activities. The assessment of any links between Iran and North Korea is sensitive information. It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on matters relating to intelligence or national security.

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the trial in Bahrain of (1) Hajer Mansoor Hassan and Sayed Nizar Alwadaei who were sentenced to three years in prison,and (2) Mahmood Marzooq Mansoor who was sentenced to six weeks in prison, on 30 October.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government closely follows a number of cases, including the referenced ones, and our representatives regularly attend court hearings. We understand there is now a right of appeal to these sentences and we will continue to monitor proceedings.We have raised these cases at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain.

Sayed Alwadaei

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) contact they have had with, and (2) support they have given to, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, in response to concerns raised by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and five UN Special Rapporteurs that the detention, unfair trial and allegedtorture of Hajer Mansoor Hassan, Sayed Nizar Alwadaei, and Mahmood Marzooq Mansoor in Bahrain were undertaken as a reprisal for Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei’s human rights work.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office engages with a number of non-governmental organisations who have an interest in Bahrain.We have raised the referenced cases at a senior level with the Government of Bahrain. We understand there is now a right of appeal to these sentences. The UK Government will continue to closely monitor proceedings.

Israel: Bedouin

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding reports of the repeated demolitions of the Bedouin village of Al Araqib.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we are closely following the debate around the issue of unresolved Bedouin land claims, unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and lack of basic services. We encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to engage in dialogue to agree a satisfactory solution to the issue, respecting the rights of the people affected.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the remarks by Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi, that Israeli plans to incorporate West Bank settlement blocs around Jerusalem into the city “could kill hopes for an independent Palestinian state".

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is gravely concerned about the Greater Jerusalem Bill and the proposals that it contains to incorporate West Bank settlement blocs within the municipal boundary of Jerusalem. If passed, this legislation could undermine prospects for a two-state solution. Our Ambassador to Tel Aviv raised our concerns about the Bill with the Israeli authorities on 26 October.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel following reports that plans will shortly be approved for 500 Israeli settlement units in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood and 200 in neighbouring Ramot.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised these specific proposals with the Israeli authorities, when the Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 November, she reiterated our opposition to illegal settlement activity and the absolute need for a peace agreement based on a two-state solution. We regularly raise our grave concerns on this issue with the Government of Israel and we urge it to reverse its policy of settlement expansion. On 20 October the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning advancement by the Israeli authorities of 2,900 settlement units across the West Bank.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following that government’s pledge to provide $230 million for West Bank roads and infrastructure development.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, when the Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 November, she reiterated our opposition to illegal settlement activity. The UK’s position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. On 20 October the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the advancement by the Israeli authorities of 2,900 settlement units across the West Bank. We are gravely concerned by the announcement of further funding for settlement infrastructure in the West Bank.​

Gaza: Radiotherapy

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussionsthey have hadwith (1) the government of Israel, and (2) the Palestinian authority,concerning theneed to provide radiotherapy equipment in Gaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not discussed this issue with either the Israeli authorities or the Palestinian Authority (PA), we are supporting the UN Access Coordination Unit. This unit works with the Israeli Government, PA and aid agencies to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian goods including some medical equipment and supplies.

Qatar: Human Rights

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the independence and credibility of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We understand that the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar has been accredited as 'A'​ status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, whose rating means it is considered to be in compliance with the Paris Principles.

Gulf States: Human Rights

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any representations from the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar about human rights violations committed by those Gulf states who have imposed a blockade on Qatar since June; and if so, what discussions they have had with the Committee, or with the government of Qatar, regarding those reported violations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government has held meetings with representatives from the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar to discuss the impact on Qatar as a result of the regional dispute. We continue to engage and monitor the situation.

Gulf States: Human Rights

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment hey have made of reports that Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have committed human rights violations in respect of Qatari citizens living or working in their countries, and in respect of their own citizens living or working in Qatar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We understand that the current restrictions are having an impact on the everyday lives of people in the region. We call upon our Gulf friends to encourage de-escalation, lift restrictions, and get firmly behind Kuwait's mediation efforts.

Gulf States: Human Rights

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates can be imprisoned or fined for expressing sympathy for Qatar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of the reports and have updated our Travel Advice accordingly. We call on all sides to take steps to de-escalate the situation and unite the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatar: Human Rights

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any British citizens with connections to Qatar have been subject to violations of their human rights since the blockade of Qatar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are not aware of any specific British cases. We continue to call upon the Gulf States to find a way of de-escalating the situation and lifting the current restrictions, which are having an impact on the everyday lives of people in the region.

Northern Ireland Office

Stormont House Agreement

lord dunlop: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to launch a public consultation concerning the institutions proposed by the Stormont House Agreement to address the legacy issues of Northern Ireland's past.

lord duncan of springbank: The Government is committed to the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to introduce new legacy institutions that will be under legal obligations to be fair, balanced, transparent and proportionate and will be fully consistent with the rule of law. The Government believes that the Stormont House Agreement is the right way to address the past in Northern Ireland. The Government is committed to consulting on the legacy proposals and it is the intention of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to bring forward a formal public consultation as soon as possible.

Department for International Development

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much UK aid being provided to Iraq in 2017–18 is focussed on supporting the return of displaced individuals to their home communities, if they wish to return; what proportion that represents of the total annual aid provided to Iraq; and what estimate they have made of the relative proportions provided through (1) the EU, (2) the UN, and (3) other international agencies.

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they and their international partners are taking to support the return of displaced individuals in Iraq to their home communities, if they wish to return.

lord bates: The majority of UK funding to Iraq is in the form of immediate humanitarian assistance aimed at saving lives. DFID humanitarian assistance is delivered according to need and not conditional on whether an individual intends to return home or remain in a host community. DFID support through cash assistance to vulnerable families, support to health services, water, sanitation, or the return of documentation - may all contribute to an environment conducive to return, but it would be not be possible to specify a percentage given the unique circumstances for the people involved.In 2017/18 the UK has allocated £40 million in humanitarian assistance to displaced individuals. In addition to this the UK is contributing over £30 million through our Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) this financial year. This includes £5.68 million to the UN Fund for Immediate Stabilisation (FFS) which focusses on encouraging returns by rehabilitating critical infrastructure, regenerating services such as water and electricity and providing livelihood opportunities in newly liberated areas.Most major international agencies including the EU provide funding via the UN-coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan. The 2017 appeal is for $984m to respond to urgent needs in Iraq and is 64% funded. The plan covers a range of sectors that may encourage solutions such as return, although is similarly not conditional on return. DFID continues to work with the government of Iraq and humanitarian actors to ensure that robust and coordinated response planning is in place going into 2018, including for activities that support displaced people to return home.

Israel: Visits Abroad

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings have recently taken place between the Secretary of State for International Development and officials of the governmentof Israel; and whether those meetings were classified as official departmental business.

lord bates: My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. I refer to the statement made by my Rt Hon Friend on 6 November.

Department for Education

Academies: North West

lord fearn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many academies have been established in the North West of England in each of the last two years to date.

lord agnew of oulton: As of 1 October 2017, a total of 148 academies, free schools, studio schools and University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have opened in the past two years in the North West region of England - 76 opened in the 2016 calendar year and 72 have opened in the 2017 calendar year to date. The breakdown of these is as follows:North West20162017TotalAcademy Converter514798Sponsor Led Academy162036Free School639Studio school123UTC202Grand Total7672148 As at 1 October 2017 a total of 1942 academies, free schools, studio schools and UTCs have opened in the past two years in England. The breakdown of these is as follows: England20162017TotalAcademy Converter6816621343Sponsor Led Academy228256484Free School444791Studio school437UTC11617Grand Total9689741942

Pupils: Personal Records

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific information schools are legally required to collect regarding pupils.

lord agnew of oulton: Schools collect a range of information on pupils for their own purposes. Full details of the specific information which schools are required to collect by law is accessible via the links in the attached annex. Some of this information is required to be submitted by schools to the Department via various data collections which are undertaken throughout the school year. The main types of pupil information collected by the Department are:Pupil identifiers (name, date of birth, etc).Pupil characteristics (gender, ethnicity, language, etc).Pupil attendance and exclusions.Pupil special educational needs.Pupil attainment and teacher assessments.Data collected is stored securely by the Department under a combination of software and hardware controls which meet ISO27001 standards and the government security policy framework. The Department takes privacy extremely seriously and any third-party access to sensitive data is strictly controlled and governed by legal experts and senior civil servants.



Annex HL2783
(Word Document, 26.72 KB)

Academies: Pay

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have set an upper limit for the annual salary of CEOs of multi-academy trusts; and if so, what.

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the monies paid to trustees of multi-academy trusts are monitored.

lord agnew of oulton: It is essential that we have the best people to lead our schools to raise standards. The responsibilities of school leaders have changed significantly in recent years, with many now running several academies in a multi-academy trust. Academy trusts are free to set their own salaries for staff and the Department would expect this to reflect the size and complexity of the trust, as they must deliver value for money.The 2017 Academies Financial Handbook, attached, emphasises that decisions about levels of executive pay must follow a robust evidence-based process and are reflective of the individual’s role and responsibilities.Trusts must disclose senior staff pay annually in their audited accounts. The academies’ sector annual report and accounts we have published means there is now more information available than ever about academy trusts’ finances. The Education and Skills Funding Agency follow up where non-compliance is identified. Disclosure must include:The number of employees earning more than £60k, set out in £10k bands.Names of all trustees who received remuneration in each band, and the amounts they received. This will consist of the salaries of the principal in a single academy trust and the chief executive in a multi academy trust, unless in the exceptional case they have chosen not to be a trustee.Payments by academy trusts to their trustees must be disclosed in the trust’s annual accounts. These are independently audited and published for transparency. The disclosures will comprise payments to those staff who are also trustees, paid in their capacity as staff not as trustees. In addition, Charity Commission approval would be required if an academy trust wished to pay an individual for acting as trustee.



Academies Financial Handbook
(PDF Document, 1.35 MB)

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether theyintend totake steps to reduce the adult prison population, using methods similar to those which have successfully reduced the number of youths in custody.

lord keen of elie: Prison numbers can fluctuate, which is why we have a robust set of plans in place to ensure we will always have enough places for offenders committed to custody by the courts. This includes modernising the estate and building new accommodation. We want to see the number of people imprisoned fall, but not by setting an arbitrary figure for reduction. To address the level of re-offending, which remains unacceptably high, we are committed to transforming all prisons into places of safety and reform and to ensuring that community penalties are tough, effective and command the confidence of sentencers. There are significant differences in the adult and youth justice systems. We will continue to assess, however, whether approaches adopted for youths have a broader application.

Ministry of Defence

Medals

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to include serving military personnel in the awarding of the British Empire Medal.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no plans to award the British Empire Medal to serving military personnel. Service personnel are eligible for a range of state honours for their work in the MOD or in other aspects of UK Defence; the military division of Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2017 saw a total of 113 Service personnel granted such honours. In addition to state honours, medals can also be awarded to Her Majesty's Armed Forces to recognise gallantry or bravery, Service on operations, Long Service and Good Conduct, and for commemorative events.

Trident Submarines: Procurement

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in their currentreview of defence options, they will review whether or not the Vanguard class submarine replacement programme should be dealt with outside the defence budget.

earl howe: The Dreadnought programme is rightly funded as part of the Ministry of Defence's budget. We remain on track to deliver this programme within the £31 billion budget, with the first in the Dreadnought class entering service in the 2030s.

Armed Forces: Finance

lord burnett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any recent reductions in the total number of personnel employed by (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the Army, and (3) the Royal Air Force, have been matched by a corresponding reduction in Government funding provided to that service; and if so, whether any such funding has been reallocated to another branch of the Armed Forces.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence's annual budget cycle allocates resources to the single Services and other parts of the Department on the basis of what they need to deliver defence policy, including the number of military and civilian personnel they require.Under the Department's delegated budgetary model, budget holders have the freedom to reallocate funding to take account of changes in costs, requirements and priorities that emerge during the course of the financial year.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan interpreters who had worked with the British armed forces have to date been relocated in the UK under the ex gratia redundancy scheme; how many such cases are currently in the pipeline awaiting relocation; and what percentage of those eligible for the redundancy scheme have to date applied for relocation to the UK.

earl howe: The UK is committed to supporting our current and former local staff in Afghanistan, and our well-established ex-gratia redundancy scheme recognises their contribution and the debt of gratitude we owe them. Eligible former staff who were made redundant as a result of the UK drawdown can choose between: an in-country package of up to five years of training along with financial support (this option can also be 'gifted' to immediate family members); a financial package of 18 months' salary; and for eligible former staff who worked in a frontline role for 12 months or more, the option to apply to relocate to the UK with their spouse and children.As of 31 October 2017, over 380 former local staff and their families have relocated to the UK under this scheme, over 1,000 people in total. Of these, approximately 350 worked for the Ministry of Defence; the others worked for the Foreign Office or the Department for International Development. There are around 50 more former staff who are awaiting relocation. The majority of those who have relocated worked as interpreters, however some staff who worked in other roles, such as cultural advisers, have also relocated under the scheme. The vast majority of those eligible for relocation - around 90 per cent - chose this option; however, some elected to remain in Afghanistan and take up one of the other offers available under the scheme. Over 350 former staff who did not work in frontline roles, or their immediate family, have benefited from the training and finance offers.

Walter Tull

lord triesman: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans for the posthumous award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, killed on 25 March 1918 during the last German offensive of the First World War.

lord triesman: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of non-white officers, including Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, to the regular Brisih army in the First world War.

earl howe: There is a long tradition of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals serving in the British Armed Forces. They have served with great courage and distinction, and provided an important contribution in defending the UK, both at home and abroad, across many conflicts including the First World War.At the time of Second Lieutenant Tull's death, the Military Cross could not be awarded posthumously. Although this rule was changed in 1979, this change does not apply retrospectively and there are no plans to change policy. This is in no way a reflection on the bravery and leadership shown by Lieutenant Tull.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether departments other than the Ministry of Defence are involved in assessing bids to build the three new solid support ships; how they intend to compare overseas and UK bids; and whether, in doing so, they plan to take into account UK requirements, in particular those relating to (1) the development of high tech skills, (2) the modernisation of plant, (3) productivity, (4) energy usage, and (5) the welfare of workers and their families.

earl howe: The Future Solid Support Ship programme is currently in its Assessment Phase and the criteria by which bids will be assessed have yet to be developed.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Himalayan Balsam

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to eliminate Himalayan balsam; and what consideration they have given to introducing environmental schemes to reimburse landowners and farmers for its removal.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK has long recognised the threats posed by invasive non-native species. In 2008, we published a comprehensive Great Britain Non-native Species Strategy designed to tackle these threats, the first of its kind in Europe. Himalayan balsam was first introduced into the UK in the 1830s and is now widespread here and throughout most of Europe. It spreads rapidly, forming dense thickets and outcompeting our native species. Defra is currently funding the research organisation CABI to develop and test a biocontrol agent in the form of a rust fungus that is designed to infect Himalayan balsam leaves and stem its growth. This pioneering research project, the first ever release of a fungus against a plant in Europe, is showing early promise. Local action groups, with support from government, are actively involved in reducing and eradicating Himalayan balsam. For example, the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project has led 111 work parties this year involving 337 volunteers specifically to remove Himalayan balsam. Funds from a new EU RAPID LIFE project, totalling €1.1m, will also be available to local action groups to provide additional financial assistance. Natural England and the Environment Agency also undertake action nationally to remove Himalayan balsam where it is affecting protected sites, water quality or adds to the risk of flooding. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme Higher Tier includes an option, for which farmers can apply, that provides funding for the management of invasive plant species including Himalayan balsam.

Home Office

Undocumented Migrants: Northern Ireland

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many peoplewere apprehended when illegally entering the UK via Northern Ireland's land border with the Republic of Ireland in each of the last two years.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Passports: Biometrics

baroness falkner of margravine: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of the failure rate of biometric passport gates at UK airports; and what was the total amount of delay resulting from such failures in 2016–17.

baroness williams of trafford: Protecting the UK border is, and always has been, of paramount importance to this Government. It has never been government practice, for reasons of national security, to comment on operational issues relating to border security. This includes offering commentary on the performance of border systems and of ePassport Gates specifically.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people held in immigration detention (1) self-harmed, and (2) tried to commit suicide, in the years (a) 2015, (b) 2016, and (c) 2017, to date.

baroness williams of trafford: All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Staff at all immigration removal centres (IRC) are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and detention services order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT). The Home Office requires IRC service providers to record management information on the number of incidents of self harm that have required medical treatment. Information on incidents of self harm which do not require medical treatment, or where the intent of the self harm attempt is suicide, is not readily available from central statistical records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost through a manual search of individual case files. Provisional management information for the period from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2017 shows that in 2015 there were 411 incidents of self harm requiring medical attention, in 2016 there were 342 incidents and 224 incidents in 2017 (to 30 June). These numbers do not necessarily equate to the numbers of detainees requiring medical treatment. One individual may have received medical treatment on more than one occasion. This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Immigration: Adoption

lord eatwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they treat children who claim to be adopted differently fromthose who are not adopted in determiningimmigration cases; and if so, how many instances of such different treatment there have been in the last five years.

lord eatwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 26 October (HL2021), which member states of the UN have adoption laws that are not recognised as lawful in the UK.

lord eatwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proof of adoption is required for a child adopted in a foreign jurisdiction to be deemed lawfully adopted by the UK authorities.

baroness williams of trafford: Children who claim to be adopted are not treated differently to biological children in determining immigration cases.The UK automatically recognises adoptions from the list of designated countries that can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/intercountry-adoption-information-for-adoption-agencies. The adoption order is required as proof of such adoptions.

Immigration: Children

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 2 November (HL Deb, col 1508), of themore than 9,000 children granted asylum or other leave to remain in 2016–2017, how many already had parents in the UK; and where the other childrenwere located immediately before admission to the UK, broken down by country of birth or origin.

baroness williams of trafford: In the year to June 2017, the UK granted asylum or another form of leave to over 9,000 children. This figure includes children granted asylum or another form of leave following an asylum claim, children resettled under our resettlement programmes and those children who were granted family reunion visas. The forms of leave granted to children who have made an asylum claim can include Refugee Leave, Humanitarian Protection, UASC Leave, Discretionary Leave, Grants of Family or Private Life Leave To Remain or Leave Outside The Rules. Children who are resettled to the UK under our resettlement programmes are granted Refugee status or Indefinite Leave to Remain depending on the specific resettlement programme. Family reunion visas can be granted to family members of those granted Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection in the UK, and are granted Leave in line with their relative. The Home Office publishes the number of Asylum applications made in the UK from main applicants, by age, sex and country of nationality in the Immigration Statistics release. The latest figures are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593028/asylum2-q4-2016-tables.ods

Refugees: Social Security Benefits

baroness smith of basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 25 July 2016 (HL1295) and 1 November (HL2214), whether it is still their intention to publish an evaluation of the scheme,given theirearlier stated intentionto publish that evaluation in 2016;and if so, whenthat evaluation willbe published.

baroness williams of trafford: The scheme is intended to to ensure that refugees who wish to apply for benefits are assisted with their application and receive prompt payment of any benefit for which they qualify. We will make information available about the scheme in due course.

HM Treasury

Cash Dispensing

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposed changes to the ATM network, and of the potential for such changes to limit access to free ATMs in some poorer communities.

lord bates: The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK, and will continue to work with industry to ensure continued free access to cash. LINK, the scheme that runs the ATM network in the UK, has assured the Government that it is committed to maintaining an extensive network of free-to-use cash machines regardless of any changes currently under consideration within the scheme, and to ensuring that the present geographical spread of ATMs is maintained. They have also assured Government that the industry is committed to maintaining widespread free access to cash, and that any reduction in the number of ATMs is likely to be in areas where there are currently multiple ATMs. They are committed to maintaining their Financial Inclusion Programme to ensure the provision of ATMs in areas of deprivation, where demand would not otherwise make one viable. In 2015 the Government set up the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) with the statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. The PSR is monitoring developments within ATM provision, and is conducting ongoing internal work on the impact that changes to interchange fees may have. Government is confident that the PSR will use its powers to act should any of the firms it regulates behave in a way that conflicts with its statutory objectives.

European Defence Fund

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK, as a major stakeholder in the European Investment Bank, will take part in discussions in December about the Bank giving greater support to the European Defence Fund (EDF); and whether they expect the UK to benefit from the setting up of a single European Defence Market with the EDF deciding on apportionment of contracts across the EU.

lord bates: As long as the UK is part of the EU it remains a full member of European Investment Bank (EIB). This means that the UK continues to have full representation on the EIB Board of Directors and will continue to participate in ongoing EIB business. The Chancellor also acts as an EIB Governor and continues to represent the UK at the EIB Board of Governors. As stated in the government’s Future Partnership Paper on Foreign Policy, Defence and Development, the UK wants to explore how best to ensure that the UK and European defence and security industries can continue to work together. We will consider options and models for future participation in the Commission’s European Defence Fund including both the European Defence Research Programme and the European Defence Industrial Development Programme. On the wider issue of the UK security relationship with the EU, the government has proposed a bold new strategic partnership with the EU, including a comprehensive agreement on security, law enforcement and criminal justice co-operation. The Prime Minister has made clear that United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe’s security. And the UK will continue to offer aid and assistance to EU member states that are the victims of armed aggression, terrorism and natural or manmade disasters.

NHS: VAT

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Bates on 1 November (HL2444), what was the total cost of VAT refunds made in relation to health bodies under the provisions of section 41(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, in each of the financial years since 2010–11.

lord bates: An estimate of the total cost of VAT refunds made in relation to health bodies under the provisions of section 41(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 information requested is shown in the table below. Financial yearVAT refunds to health bodies (£ billion)2010-111.62011-121.82012-131.92013-141.92014-152.02015-162.22016-172.3

Customs

lord kinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the total number, and (2) the annual cost, ofadditional HMRC civil servants who will need to be recruited as a result of the UK leaving the EU if (a) the UK remains in a customs union with the EU, and (2) the UK leaves the EU Customs Union.

lord bates: The Government has been clear that as we leave the EU, we will also leave the EU Customs Union. Any changes to staffing levels within HM Revenue and Customs will be dependent on the outcome of EU exit negotiations. HMRC is working with HM Treasury to understand all costs associated with the options for the UK’s future customs arrangements after the UK has exited the EU.

Customs

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impactof customs checks on goods on UK ships travelling (1) from the EU to UK ports, and (2) from the UK to EU ports, following the UK's exit from the EU.

lord bates: Future customs arrangements depend on the outcome of the negotiations. The Government remains clear that the UK’s future customs arrangements should be as frictionless as possible, ensuring that traffic continues to flow freely at all ports. HM Revenue and Customs has engaged with a large number of businesses and ports to understand what may impact them in future and to identify any customs challenges they may face.

NHS: VAT

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer byLord Bates on 1 November (HL2444), and in the light of guidance from HMRC stating that VAT refunds paid under s 41(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 are met from public expenditure rather than VAT revenue, whether refunds paid to the NHS under that section are met out of the NHS spend voted by Parliament; and if so, whether the Vote is adjusted in order to meet the additional costs of those refunds.

lord bates: NHS expenditure is included in the Department of Health budget, which is voted by Parliament. Budgets are set net of recoverable VAT and therefore take account of payments under section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit: Impact Assessments

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) which (a) departments, and (b) ministers, received the sector-by-sector Brexit impact assessment analysis papers; and (2) which ministers received a specific analysis (and which one) and which ministers receiveda complete set.

lord callanan: As Parliamentary Under Secretary Robin Walker said in his opening remarks to the House on 1st November, the Government has not produced a series of sectoral impact assessments. The Government has produced a wide mix of qualitative and quantitative analysis, contained in a range of documents developed at different times since the referendum. It is constantly evolving and being updated based on our discussions with industry and our negotiations with the EU, but it is not, and nor has it ever been, a series of impact assessments examining the quantitative impact of Brexit on these sectors. The Secretary of State has said that he will provide sector analysis to the Exiting the European Union Committee in an informative and accessible way as soon as is possible.

Brexit

lord kinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their commitment made in response to a Freedom of Information request by Seema Malhotra in October 2017 to release information in an organised and efficient manner on the scope and terms of reference of their sectoral economic analyses of the impact of leaving the EU, when they intend to release that information.

lord callanan: The Government is carrying out an ongoing programme of comprehensive analytical work that will inform our negotiating position with the EU to deliver our objective of a deep and special partnership with the EU, and inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.On Monday 30 October 2017, the Government published the list of the 58 sectors used to help structure some of our thinking and analysis. The response to Seema Malhotra was that the Government intended to publish that list of sectors, which it has now done. No such commitment was made in that response to releasing the information relating to the scope or terms of reference for the analysis itself.Following the opposition day motion of 1 November 2017 regarding the release of Government analysis, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Robin Walker, was clear that the Government takes very seriously the motion of parliament, and will respond to it. However, it will take the Government some time to collate and bring together this information in a way that is accessible and informative to the EU Select Committee. We will provide this information to the committee as soon as is possible and we have made plain to the house authorities that we currently expect this to be no more than 3 weeks.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade: Gulf States

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of reported human rights violations by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for the UK's trading relationships with those countries.

baroness fairhead: The UK has a strong history of protecting human rights and promoting our values globally. We will continue to encourage all states to uphold international human rights obligations and work with those determined to reform. Our embassies in these countries maintain regular dialogue with officials and leaders on a range of topics, including human rights issues.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Internet: Safety

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the commitment made by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 20 March (HL Deb, col 40) to consider the definition of prohibited material in the Government’s Internet Security Strategy Green Paper, and the reference by the Minister of State for Digital Policy on 26 April (HC Deb, col 1126) to such definitions as unfinished business, why the Green Paper does not address the issue of definitions

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further tothe statement by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 20 March (HL Deb, col 39) that there were some areas that they might want to give further consideration to, such as violence against women, in using the definition in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 in the Digital Economy Act 2017, why the issue of definitions is not addressed in the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper published on 11 October; and whether they intend to give this further consideration.

lord ashton of hyde: Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act (2017) requires the Secretary of State for Digital Culture, Media and Sport to produce a report on the effectiveness of age verification measures 12 months after the powers come into force. We will use this review to consider wider impact and consult on the definitions used in this part of the Act.

Internet: Safety

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of Key Principle 1 of their Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper, published on 11 October, that standards of behaviour online should match those offline, and the proposal that there should be a common framework for media standards, what steps they are taking to ensure that equivalent definitions of prohibited material are applied across different media platforms.

lord ashton of hyde: We are currently consulting on the social media code of practice provided for by the Digital Economy Act (2017). The Act requires the code to address conduct that is bullying or insulting to users, or other behaviour that is likely to intimidate or humiliate. Through this code we hope to tackle some of the most pernicious, but legal, online behaviours, including trolling and abuse, that is often disproportionately targeted towards women.Such abusive and threatening behaviour online is totally unacceptable. A number of criminal offences may be committed by those abusing others on social media and an action which is illegal offline is also illegal online. Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act (2017) requires the Secretary of State to produce a report on the effectiveness of age verification measures 12 months after the powers come into force. This review will provide the opportunity to consider impact, identify gaps and consult on definitions used in this Part of the Act, including the definition of extreme pornography.

Gaming Machines

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the limit per bet on fixed-odds betting terminals.

lord ashton of hyde: The Government issued a call for evidence to inform the Review of Gaming Machine Stakes and Prizes and Social Responsibility Measures last year. Following on from the call for evidence the Government published on 31 October a consultation which includes options on reducing the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. The attached consultation, and its accompanying impact assessment, are attached and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures



Consultation on changes to gaming machines 
(PDF Document, 928.38 KB)




Impact Assessment - Consultation on proposals
(PDF Document, 435.94 KB)

Self-harm: Children

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the number of children who self-harm as a result of over-exposure to the internet.

lord ashton of hyde: As part of the work on the Digital Charter announced in the Queen’s Speech, the Government is considering a range of options to counter internet harms. This includes an Internet Safety Strategy which will look at how we can support users so that everyone can access the benefits of the Internet safely. The Strategy, which was published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 11 October, considers the responsibilities of companies to their users, the use of technical solutions to prevent online harms and government’s role in supporting users. The Strategy includes a public consultation on the proposed measures. DCMS will work closely with the Department of Health and the Department for Education on their upcoming joint Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper. This will be published before the end of the year and will consider both the impact of social media on mental health and the role that technology has in affecting children and young people’s mental health.

Department of Health

Surgical Mesh Implants

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients have had surgical mesh implants since the introduction of the procedure; and how many (1) women, and (2) men, have suffered complications following that treatment.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS Digital has provided data regarding the count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a main or secondary procedure relating to surgical mesh implants from 2007/08 2016/17. YearTotal FAEsMaleFemaleNot specified2007-086,2842,2594,025-2008-096,4362,2614,175-2009-106,9932,4014,59112010-117,3582,6574,69382011-127,5812,8074,77312012-137,5982,9464,652-2013-147,6083,1614,44522014-157,3033,2004,10212015-167,2033,3203,88212016-177,0303,3503,680- Data regarding the amount of men and women who have suffered complications following a surgical mesh implant treatment is not collected centrally. However, the following data of self-reported adverse incidence is available as follows. The number of adverse incident reports received by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency (MHRA) in cases where surgical mesh has been used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in females are shown in the following table. YearsCount of Incident Number200626200752008122009122010412011522012992013106201427620153922016265Grand Total1,286  The number of adverse incident reports received by MHRA in cases where surgical mesh has been used to treat abdominal and hernia repair are shown in the following table. YearNumber of adverse reports2013192014292015162016232017 up to September35 Note: Reported events including those from members of the public do not always provide details of the gender of the patient. The data above therefore does not distinguish between gender.

Vaccination

lord hughes of woodside: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord O'Shaughnessy on 30 October (HL Deb, col 1152), whether they will publish the tariff of fees paid to pharmacists for providing vaccinations in retail and community settings.

lord o'shaughnessy: Community pharmacy contractors are paid £9.14 per vaccination to immunise patients against seasonal flu. General practitioner contractors are paid £9.80 per vaccination to immunise patients against seasonal flu. Both are reimbursed for the cost of the vaccine administered. The differential is because GPs are required to call and recall eligible patients from their practice list for the vaccination. Community pharmacy cannot do this as they do not have a practice list. Information on the payment arrangements for community pharmacy delivered flu vaccination for 2017/18 is contained in the Service Specification, Community pharmacy seasonal influenza advanced service. This was published by NHS England in August 2017. A copy is attached.



Service specification
(PDF Document, 290.79 KB)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome areoffered the choice of takingpart in a telephone or Skype consultation when they are too ill to travel; whether this policy applies to all hospitals;and if not, why not.

lord o'shaughnessy: The commissioning of services for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a local matter. The current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on CFS/ME advises that healthcare professionals should provide diagnostic and therapeutic options to patients that reflect their needs and preferences. This may include providing services in a patient’s home or using telephone or email to contact. Such approaches may also include Skype consultations where available and appropriate.On 20 September 2017, NICE announced plans to undertake a full review of the guidance.